68 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



These birds are usually observed in pairs; but occasionally 

 a solitary individual may be seen perched on the top- 

 most bough of a lofty tree, uttering peculiar and plaintive 

 notes. 



The iris in this species is very dark brown; the bill is 

 yellowish towards the gape, the remainder being of a 

 dark-brown colour ; the legs and feet are dusky black, 

 with a brownish tint on the tarsi anteriorly, and with 

 the soles of the feet olive. 



84. Irrisor aterrinms (Steph.). Black Irrisor. 



Scoptclus aterrimus, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 1267. 

 Irrisor aterrimus, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's ; p. 209. 



[Dr. Finsch and Dr. Hartlaub, in their valuable work above 

 cited, on the birds of East Africa, mention a specimen of the 

 Black Irrisor obtained in Damara Land by the late Mr. Anders- 

 son ; but I have no further information respecting its occurrence 

 in that country. It is a species which I believe has not as yet 

 been figured.- ED.] 



PROMEROPID.E. 



85. Nectarinia famosa (Linn.). Malachite Sun-bird. 



Le Sucrier malachitte, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pis. 289 & 290, 

 Nectarinia famosa, Layard's Cat. No. 127. 



This splendid species is exceedingly abundant in Little 

 Namaqua Land, and also occurs, though but rarely, in 

 the southernmost parts of Great Namaqua Land. It is 

 usually found permanently established where it has once 

 taken up its abode. Its food consists of insects and the 

 saccharine juices of flowers, in search of which it flits 

 incessantly from one flowering tree or plant to another, 



